China’s aging population is creating increased demand for knee and hip replacement surgeries, as more patients seek relief from the joint pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. 

To address this need, AORecon, a global network of orthopaedic surgeons committed to best- in-class-education in joint preservation and replacement, presented “Principles of Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty” to newly certified orthopedic surgeons and advanced orthopedic surgical trainees at a two-day course in Zhengzhou, China in late October. DePuy Synthes, as the industrial partner to AO, supported the first-ever held course, which included hands-on learning with AORecon Skills Lab Hip and Knee featuring DePuy Synthes implants and instrumentation.

Experts Share Best Practices

The course was chaired by Wang Yisheng, M.D., Director, Institute of Orthopaedics, Zhengzhou University, and Michael Huo, M.D., Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX. It was led by an esteemed faculty of international, regional, and national experts. The program included evidence-based lectures and moderated case discussions in small groups to help advance surgical decision-making skills and achieve the best possible outcomes in primary arthroplasty.

Participants also had the opportunity to participate in AORecon Skill stations, which provided hands-on training for specific surgical steps used in both hip and knee arthroplasty. Attendees performed the steps, and then feedback was provided by both peers and the faculty.  “We are pleased to partner with the AORecon to support this important initiative and help expand access to joint reconstruction education and training in China,” said Julia Chen, General Manager, DePuy Synthes China.  “Through our collaborative partnership, we are helping patients to regain movement and return to the activities they enjoy.”

About the AO Foundation

The AO Foundation is the world’s leading network of orthopedic surgeons and researchers dedicated to improving trauma care and the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders worldwide. With the exclusive support of DePuy Synthes, the AO Foundation pioneers new surgical techniques and deliver innovative educational events globally. DePuy Synthes and the AO Foundation have a long-term partnership. They have been collaborating for more than 50 years.

The AO Foundation holds more than 830 educational events globally each year, taught by nearly 9,000 AO trained faculty, and reaches approximately 58,000 healthcare professionals (HCPs) annually through its programming.  The education is focused on the AO Foundation’s clinical areas: trauma, spine, craniomaxillofacial, veterinary surgery, and reconstructive surgery. The AO Foundation trained over 650,000 surgeons and Operating Room Personnel (ORP) in 124 countries since 1960, making the organization the most influential of its kind.

As surgery has advanced, the AO Foundation has continued to play a leadership role in innovating care for trauma and orthopaedic patients around the world. Today, the AO Foundation has a growing network of over 215,000 healthcare providers in over 100 countries that strive to promote excellence in patient care in the fields of trauma, spine, craniomaxillofacial, veterinary surgery, and reconstructive surgery.

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